News Briefs: Christian Heritage seeks new activity center; Youth soccer players take state cup; Higher-ed author visits NSCD

Christian Heritage Academy in Northfield recently announced a new capital campaign, Train Up, seeking to raise $12 million over the next three years.

A release from the school says more than half the campaign funding — $6.4 million — has been pledged.

The campaign aims to fund a new activity center, relieve long-term debt and fill the school’s reserve fund, according to the release.

The release says the proposed activity center is the focal point of the campaign at an estimated $6.7 million. It describes the facility as “a dedicated space designed to enhance student life, athletics and community engagement” and “a hub for physical education, sports and large-scale school events.” 

“We believe God is calling us to take this bold step of faith — not just for today, but for generations to come,” Head of School Joseph Torgerson says in the release. “Train Up is more than a fundraising campaign. It’s a vision for the future of Christian Heritage Academy — one that will shape minds, hearts, and leaders for Christ.” 

The campaign will run through 2028, with opportunities for donors to contribute through multi-year commitments and one-time gifts. 

For more information, visit the campaign’s dedicated website.

Locals help U15 Chicago Rush win state cup

The Chicago Rush U15 Select soccer team, which features eight Wilmette and Northfield youth soccer players, won the club’s first Illinois State Cup with a 1-0 victory against Elmhurst City Sur Elite on Nov. 2 at Loves Park.

The eight local players represent the program’s Chicago Rush North Shore, an affiliate program that pulls from Wilmette, Winnetka, Glencoe, Kenilworth, Northfield and other north-suburban communities.

The Illinois State Cup is a prestigious youth soccer tournament from U.S. Youth Soccer and Illinois Youth Soccer organizations.

The Rush’s journey is not over. They move on in the U.S. Youth National Championships and will next play in July 2026 in Tennessee.

Author talks to NSCD parents about college search

North Shore Country Day in Winnetka welcomed higher education expert Jeffrey Selingo for a parent-education event hosted in partnership with the Family Action Network on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

Selingo is the author of “Dream School: Finding the College That’s Right for You,” a New York Times bestseller. He spoke with NSCD’s Director of College Counseling Kristen Kaczynski about the evolving landscape of college admissions and how families can take a more thoughtful, empowered approach to the process.

Selingo told parents that “Dream School” grew out of questions he heard while touring with his earlier book, “Who Gets In and Why: A Year Inside College Admissions,” according to a release from NSCD.

“As I went out and started talking about that book, I often heard from parents, ‘What if we don’t get in [to those selective schools]? What if we don’t want to play that game?’” he said. “I started to understand why we go to the rankings — they make sense of a world that doesn’t really make sense. But if I was going to encourage parents and students to look deeper in the rankings, I felt like I needed to give them a roadmap. And that’s what this book is.”

According to the release, Selingo emphasized that students and parents have more influence than they may think.

“I want you to leave here today knowing that this is a consumer product,” he said on Nov. 4. “We have this emotional tie to where we went to college, and colleges know that. But that doesn’t mean we stop asking questions. It doesn’t mean we just pay whatever they charge. We ask questions like we would for any other major purchase.”

The conversation reportedly closed with advice for families as they begin the college search.

“Use your counselors as a resource,” Selingo said. “They know your school, they know your kids and they know where your chances might be a little bit better. They know about the financial aid process and where you might get better merit aid. They do a terrific job.”

The event was part of North Shore Country Day’s ongoing partnership with the Family Action Network to bring nationally recognized speakers to the Winnetka campus. Selingo also spoke in Lake Forest on Nov. 3 and in Evanston on Nov. 5.

Self-defense course in Wilmette Saturday

Two businesses in Wilmette are joining forces for a free self-defense class at 11 a.m. this Saturday, Nov. 8.

Karma Collective, 742 12th St., will host the session led by John Fonseca, of Fonseca Martial Arts, 1100 Central Ave. Unit D.

Participation is free, but registration is necessary, according to the event’s webpage.

In the class, according to the event listing, “students learn the proper ways to kick, punch, and block; how to defend against various punches, chokes, grabs, weapons, and take-downs; and how to deal with multiple attackers.

“The program also focuses on situational awareness, teaching students how to recognize potentially dangerous situations and respond appropriately.”

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